Collapsible tubular container



May 9, 1.939. c, DF 2,157,891

COLLAPS I BLE TUBULAR I CONTAINER Filed Nov. 22, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l YINVENTOR. [bk/APB G GODFREY ATTORNEYS.

y 1939- E. c. GODFREY 2,157,891

COLLAPS I BLE TUBULAR CONTAINER Filed Ndv. 22, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WIIIIIlIii::.

. INVENTOR.

fiwqieo CT Gear/Par BY %%W ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATES PATET OFFICE 22 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible tubular containers and particularly to articles of this class which are designed to carry a paste or relatively viscous fluid-like material adapted to be extruded through a discharge aperture upon collapse of the container.

Containers of this character are commonly used as receptacles for tooth paste, shaving cream, and other similar materials.

An object is to provide a container of this character having a discharge aperture for the extrusion of its contents and provided with an improved closure element or cap operable to cover and uncover said discharge aperture and to prevent undesired leakage of the content material through such aperture.

A further object is to provide such a container wherein the closure cap is held securely against detachment or complete removal from the container. A meritorious feature is that such cap is rotatably coupled with the container whereby the discharge aperture may be covered or uncovered through a movement of less than one complete rotation of the cap.

A further meritorious feature is that simple and inexpensive means are provided to positively limit the rotation of the cap in the uncovering of the aperture to that amount of rotation re quired to properly uncover such aperture. Various embodiments of stop elements are herein illustrated for accomplishing this purpose.

Another feature of importance is that simple positive means is provided for releasably locking the cap in its closed position over such aperture. The closure cap is so formed that it effectively seals the discharge aperture against leakage when the cap is closed thereover and during such movement it is adapted to wipe the wall of the container adjacent to the discharge aperture to remove any content material which may have deposited thereon during the extrusion of such material.

The container is provided with a conical end portion which is closed at the apex and the discharge aperture is arranged as a side aperture through such conical wall. The closure cap surmounts this conical end portion of the container. It is so formed that as it is threaded down it snugly engages the conical wall of such end of the container and closes the discharge aperture and as it is threaded outwardly it is backed away from such conical wall and uncovers such discharge aperture.

The conical wall portion adjacent to and immediately surrounding the discharge aperture is thinned down or tapered as it approaches the margin of such aperture and such surrounding portion is also bulged outwardly beyond the contour of the remaining portion of the conical wall so that it snugly engages the wall of the cap 5 which closes the discharge aperture. This portion of the wall surrounding the aperture is preferably resilient and the conical dome of the container may be formed of material difierent from that which constitutes the body of the container and such dome may be secured permanently to such body of the container as hereinafter more particularly described.

Various features of importance and merit will more fully appear from the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a tubular container embodying my invention and being partly broken away to show the structure of the closure cap and discharge end of the tube,

Fig. 2 is a plan of the construction shown in Fig. 1 with the discharge aperture covered,

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a portion of the construction shown in Fig. 1 partly broken away and with the discharge aperture uncovered,

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on 44 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view through the conical end portion or top of the container,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view partly in elevation showing the conical dome of the container formed of material different from that which constitutes the wall of the container body,

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary elevation partly broken away showing a modified form of stop abutment for the cap,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation partly broken away showing means for locking the cap in closed position, 40

Fig. 9 is a view of the underside of the cap shown in Fig. 8, and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section showing one form of stop abutment on the container for the cap,

Fig. 11 is a view looking upwardly on line H-H of Fig. 10,

Fig. 12 is an elevation of the discharge end of a container embodying my invention,

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view of a cap adapted to cooperate with the structure shown in Fig. 12, and

Fig. 14 is an elevation of a fragment of a container and cap embodying a modified form of construction.

In the several figures of the drawings the container is shown as having a collapsible tubular body indicated generally by the numeral 20. This container terminates at one end in a conical top or dome portion 22 which may be integral with the wall of the tube as shown in those figures of the drawings other than Fig. 6 or this conical top or dome portion may be formed from a separate piece of material as indicated in Fig. 6. This end portion of the container is of conical shape as shown in the figures of the drawings and closed at its outer end as likewise there shown. The discharge aperture'for the extrusion of the contents is indicated at 26. This discharge aperture is at the side or below the apex of the cone and is here shown as spaced a substantial distance therebelow.

Such end portion of the tube is outwardly threaded as at 28 to receive a threaded closure cap indicated generally in Fig. l by the numeral 39, The base of this cap may be provided with wings or a knurled portion 32 to facilitate manual rotation thereof as shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

This base portion of the cap is interiorly threaded to engage with the exteriorly threaded portion 28 of the container. Such base may be provided with skirt 34 which overhangs the ad-- jacent end portion of the body of the container.

As shown in the drawings the cap does not extend over the apex of the conical end 22 of the container but is cut away above its base on one side as indicated at 35 in Figs. 2 and 4 leaving a portion in the form of a wing or lip 38 which surmounts or overlaps a portion of the conical wall of the container. It will be apparent that such portion 38 will, upon rotation of the cap, either cover or uncover the discharge aperture 26. Such portion 38 terminates below the apex of the dome 22. When the cap is rotated in one direction into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the discharge aperture is closed. When the cap is rotated in the opposite direction and to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the discharge aperture is uncovered. As the cap is rotated to close the discharge aperture it moves downwardly and snugly engages the conical wall of the dome so as to form a secure seal over the discharge aperture preventing leakage of the content material of the tube. When the cap is rotated in the opposite direction it is backed away from the conical wall of the dome and uncovers such discharge aperture so that the tube contents may be extruded through the aperture. The said wing or lip 38 of the cap 32 actually takes the shape of a segment of a frustum of a cone, the concaved surface of which registers with the surface of the conical end 22 of the container 20 when tightened thereagainst.

The portion 38 of the wall of the cap which surmounts the conical wall of the dome 22 tapers as indicated in the cross sectional view of Fig. 4 from a part of maximum thickness to an edge at each side. As the cap is rotated to traverse the discharge aperture 26 of the container it is this thin edge portion which moves across the aperture and over that portion of the wall of the container immediately surrounding the aperture and this thin cutting edge portion cuts or wipes across the margin of the wall surrounding the aperture to remove by cutting, shaving or shearing off any of the contents which may have deposited thereon during extrusion. It will further be noted that the cap has a greater thickness adjacent its base which gives it strength and rigidity and that the skirt of the cap may overlap the end of the container without seating snugly thereagainst so as to interfere with the rotation of the cap to the point desired to effectively close the aperture through the dome.

As heretofore stated the conical dome of the container may be formed of material separate from that which constitutes the container body wall as shown in Fig, 6 or it may be formed integrally therewith as shown in the other figures of the drawings.

The portion of the wall immediately surrounding the discharge aperture 26 is reduced in thickness below the thickness of the remaining portion of the wall and as shown particularly in Fig. 5. In such figure the margin of the wall surrounding the aperture tapers as at 40 to an edge and such edge portion is turned slightly inwardly. It is important that this thinned or tapered marginal portion be bulged slightly outwardly beyond the conical contour of the remaining portion of the wall as is indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5. The outermost of these lines shows, as compared with the position of the innermost of said lines, the extent to which said portion has been bulged outwardly. While this amount would be relatively small in practice it is here exaggerated for purpose of illustration.

This outwardly bulged portion of the wall is flexible and resilient. As the cap is threaded down and over it such outwardly bulged portion is urged inwardly by the cap and presses against the cap forming a secure seal against leakage of the material from the interior of the tube. The outward pressure of the content of the tube against such wall portion serves to assist in maintaining the same snugly against the cap. The inturning of the edge portion 40 about the aperture serves to assist in accomplishing the same sealing function and it also prevents the edge of the cap from engaging the edge portion 40 as the edge of the cap is wiped across the discharge aperture during rotation of the cap.

Should the material which forms the wall of the tube possess insufiicient resiliency to form such outwardly bulged portion the dome shaped portion may be formed of a separate piece as shown in Fig. 6 and as heretofore referred to. In such figure the dome may be made of a resilient material and may have one end inserted through the threaded tubular neck of the body and be flanged over as at 42 on the inside of the tube body and provided with a shoulder seating upon said neck portion.

The cap is held on the tube against complete removal therefrom and this may be accomplished in various ways. One method of accomplishing it is shown in the first four figures of the drawings wherein a part of the conical wall of the dome is projected outwardly as at 44 forming a lug or detent which is adapted to engage an edge of the portion 38 of the closure cap to limit the rotation of such a cap. In Figs. 1 and 2 such detent 44 is shown in position when the cap has been moved to close the discharge aperture. In Figs. 3 and 4 such part 44 is shown in position when the cap has been rotated to open the discharge aperture. The dome portion in Fig. 6 is shown as provided with a similar lug or detent.

Other figures of the drawings show other stop means for the same purpose. In Fig. 7, the apex of the dome is shown as projecting outwardly as at 46 to partly overhang the dome and to afiord a stop which will prevent removal of the cap. In Figs, and 11 a detent or lug is projected outwardly from the wall of the tube as at 48. This detent 48 normally rides in a groove 50 which is formed in the inner surface of the base of the cap as shown in Figs. 10 and 11 and by engaging the end wall of such groove or channel 56 it limits the rotation of the cap.

In Fig. 11 additional features are shown, namely, the groove or channel 50 is provided with a rib or the like 52 spaced slightly from one end of the groove 50 and which is adapted to ride over the detent 48 to frictionally lock the cap in the position shown. In this position the discharge aperture 26 is covered. A modified form of frictional lock is shown in Figs. 8 and 9 where detent 54 is shown as formed in the wall of the tube body and adapted to be received within a recess 56 formed in the skirt of the cap to releasably frictionally lock the parts to-- gether.

In Fig. 12 the exterior thread 28 at the base of the dome terminates squarely as at 58 to cooperate with a similar termination of the corresponding thread 60 in the cap as shown in Fig. 13 to provide a stop to rotation.

In Fig. 14 another stop modification is illustrated. In this figure the body of the container is provided with a wing 62 which extends upwardly and overhangs the skirt of the cap and is adapted to engage a corresponding wing formed thereon to limit the rotation of the cap.

These lugs or detents which are punched outwardly from the wall of the container to engage parts on the cap as shown in Figs. 1, 4, '7, 8, 10 and 11 will be punched outwardly after the cap has been assembled upon the tube. In the construction shown in Fig. 6 the cap could be assembled upon the dome element before such dome element were assembled upon the tube and the fiange 42 of the dome might thereafter be flanged over inside of the tube. In each of these several constructions the rotation of the cap will be limited so that it will not become completely detached and so that it will rotate only the desired distance to cover and uncover the discharge aperture and the rotation will be permitted only to such an extent as to accomplish a complete seal against leakage of the content material.

What I claim:

1. An article of the class described comprising a collapsible tubular body, a hollow dome formed of resilient material having one end received through an opening in one end of said body and flanged over the interior wall of said body adjacent to said opening, said dome being conical at its opposite end and having a discharge opening through its conical wall, a cap threaded upon said end of the body and having a part overlapping the conical wall of the dome and adapted upon rotation of the cap to cover and uncover the discharge opening.

2. In combination, a collapsible tube including a threaded neck, a substantially conical dome having a tubular base slightly less in diameter than the bottom of the said dome integral therewith forming an annular shoulder at the bottom of the said dome, the said tubular base being telescoped through the said neck with the annular shoulder at the bottom of the said dome positioned against the top of .the said neck, the bottom of the said tubular base being expanded within the said collapsible tube whereby the said conical dome is secured in sealed relationship to the said threaded neck, the said conical dome having adispensing aperture through the side thereof, and closure means threaded on the said neck adapted to engage the said conical dome and seal the said dispensing aperture when turned into engagement with the said conical dome.

3. A collapsible tubular container terminating at one end in a conical top having a discharge aperture below its apex, a cap threaded upon such end of the container surmounting said conical top and cut away on one side and rotatable to cover or uncover said discharge aperture, said conical top of the container provided with an abutment projecting into the cut away opening of the cap to limit the rotation of the cap upon the top.

4. In combination, a collapsible tube including a threaded neck, a substantially conical dome projecting from said neck having a dispensing aperture through the side thereof, and closure means threaded on the said neck comprising a threaded collar and a semi-frusto conical finger projecting thereabove adapted to engage said conical dome and seal the said dispensing aperture when turned into engagement with the said conical dome.

5. In combination, a collapsible tube including a threaded neck, a substantially conical dome projecting from said neck having a dispensing aperture through the side thereof, closure means threaded on the said neck comprising a threaded collar and a semi-frusto conical finger projecting thereabove adapted to engage said conical dome and seal the said dispensing aperture when turned into engagement with the said conical dome, and means for limiting the turning of the said closure means whereby the removal thereof is prevented.

6. In combination, a collapsible tube including a threaded neck, a substantially conical dome projecting from the said neck having a dispensing aperture through the side thereof, a protuberance formed in said conical dome around the periphery of the said dispensing aperture, and closure means threaded on the said neck comprising a threaded collar and a semi-frusto conical finger projecting thereabove adapted to engage the said conical dome at the said protuberance and seal the said dispensing aperture when turned into compressive sealing contact with the said protuberance.

'7. In combination, a collapsible tube including a threaded neck, a substantially conical dome projecting from the said neck having a dispensing aperture through the side thereof, a protuberance formed in said conical dome around the peperiphery of the said dispensing aperture, closure means threaded on the said neck comprising a threaded collar and a semi-frusto conical finger projecting thereabove adapted to engage the conical dome at the said protuberance thereof and seal the said dispensing aperture when turned into compressive sealing contact with the said protuberance, and means for limiting the turning of the said closure means whereby the removal thereof is prevented.

8. In combination, a collapsible tube including a threaded neck, a substantially conical dome projecting from the said neck having a dispensing aperture through the side thereof, a protuberance the said protuberance being formed thinner around the periphery of the said dispensing aperture than elsewhere whereby to permit the pressure extrusion of contents through the said dispensing aperture to re-form the said protuberance ready for subsequent engagement by the said closure means.

9. In combination, a collapsible tube including a threaded neck, a substantially conical dome projecting from the said neck having a dispensing aperture through the side thereof, a protuberance formed in said conical dome around the periphery of the said dispensing aperture, closure means threaded on the said neck comprising a threaded collar and a semi-frusto conical finger projecting thereabove adapted to engage the conical dome at the said protuberance thereof and seal the said dispensing aperture when turned into compressive sealing contact with the said protuberance, the said protuberance being formed thinner around the periphery of the said dispensing aperture than elsewhere whereby to permit the pressure extrusion of contents through the said dispensing aperture to re-form the said protuberance ready for subsequent engagement by the said closure means, and means for limiting the turning of the said closure means whereby the removal thereof is prevented.

10. In combination, a collapsible tube including a threaded neck, a substantially conical dome projecting from said neck having a dispensing aperture through the side thereof, closure means threaded on the said neck comprising a threaded collar and a semi-frusto conical finger projecting thereabove adapted to engage said conical dome and seal the said dispensing aperture when turned into engagement with the said conical dome, and. a cutting edge on said closure means adapted to remove any contents of the said tube which may project from said dispensing aperture when the said closure means is turned into sealed engagement with said conical dome.

11. In combination, a collapsible tube including a threaded neck, a substantially conical dome projecting from the said neck having a dispensing aperture through the side thereof, a protuberance formed in said conical dome around the periphery of the said dispensing aperture, closure means threaded on the said neck comprising a threaded collar and a semi-frusto conical finger projecting thereabove adapted to engage the said conical dome at the said protuberance and seal the said dispensing aperture when turned into compressive sealing contact with the said protuberance, and a cutting edge on said closure means adapted to shear off any contents of the said tube which may project from said dispensing aperture when the said closure means is being turned into sealed engagement with the said protuberance.

12. In combination, a collapsible tube including a threaded neck, a substantially conical dome having a tubular base slightly less in diameter than the bottom of the said dome integral therewith forming an annular shoulder at the bottom of the said dome, the said tubular base being telescoped through the said neck with the annular shoulder at the bottom of the said dome positioned against the top of the said neck, the bottom of the said tubular base being expanded within the said collapsible tube whereby the said conical dome is secured in sealed relationship to the said threaded neck, the said conical dome having a dispensing aperture through the side thereof, and closure means threaded on the said neck comprising a threaded collar and a semifrusto conical finger projecting thereabove adapted to engage the said conical dome and seal the said dispensing aperture when turned into engagement with the said conical dome.

13. In combination, a collapsible tube including a threaded neck, a substantially conical dome having a tubular base slightly less in diameter than the bottom of the said dome integral therewith forming an annular shoulder at the bottom of the said dome, the said tubular base being telescoped through the said neck with the annular shoulder at the bottom of the said dome positioned against the top of the said neck, the bottom of the said tubular base being expanded Within the said collapsible tube whereby the said conical dome is secured in sealed relationship to the said threaded neck, the said conical dome having a dispensing aperture through the side thereof, closure means threaded on the said neck comprising a threaded collar and a semi-frusto conical finger projecting thereabove adapted to engage the said conical dome and seal the said dispensing aperture when turned into engage-. ment with the said conical dome, and means for limiting the turning of the said closure means whereby the removal thereof is prevented.

14. In combination, a collapsible tube including a threaded neck, a substantially conical dome projecting from the said neck having a dispensing aperture through the side thereof, closure means threaded on said neck comprising a threaded collar and a semi-frusto conical finger projecting thereabove adapted to engage the said conical dome and seal the said dispensing aperture when turned into engagement with the said conical dome, a flared base on the said closure means conforming generally to the shape of the top of the said collapsible tube, the bottom of the said closure base having a depression formed therein, and a detent formed in the top of the said collapsible tube located in registry with the depression in the base of the said closure when the said closure is turned to its closed position.

15. In combination, a collapsible tube including a threaded neck, a substantially conical dome projecting from the said neck having a dispensing aperture through the side thereof, closure means threaded on said neck comprising a threaded collar and a semi-frusto conical finger projecting thereabove adapted to engage the said conical dome and seal the said dispensing aperture when turned into engagement with the said conical dome, a flared base on said closure means conforming generally to the shape of the top of the said collapsible tube, the said closure base having an arcuate chase formed in the bottom thereof, and a stop formed in the top of the said collapsible tube in registry with said chase, the said stop and chase being so positioned with respect to the said dispensing aperture and the said sealing finger therefor as to limit the turning of the said closure means to the minimum rquired to accomplish the complete sealing and unsealing of the said dispensing aperture.

16. In combination, a collapsible tube including a threaded neck, a substantially conical dome projecting from the said neck having a dispensing aperture through the side thereof, closure means threaded on said neck comprising a threaded collar and a semi-frusto conical finger projecting thereabove adapted to engage the said conical dome and seal the said dispensing aperture when turned into engagement with the said conical dome, a flared base on said closure means conforming generally to the shape of the top of the said collapsible tube, the said closure base having an arcuate chase formed in the bottom thereof, a stop formed in the top of the said collapsible tube in registry with said chase, the said stop and chase being so positioned with respect to the said dispensing aperture and the said sealing finger therefor as to limit the turning of the said closure means to the minimum required to accomplish the complete sealing and unsealing of the said dispensing aperture, and a protuberance in the said chase adapted to engage the said stop whereby to maintain the said closure means in a closed position until the said protuberance is manually forced past the said stop.

17. In combination, a collapsible tube including a threaded neck, a substantially conical dome projecting from the said neck having a dispensing aperture through the side thereof, and closure means threaded on said neck comprising a threaded collar and a semi-frusto conical finger projecting thereabove adapted to engage said conical dome and seal the said dispensing aperture when turned into engagement with the said conical dome, a flared base on the said closure means conforming generally to the shape of the top of the said collapsible tube, and a tab integral with the top of the said collapsible tube bent into a plane spaced from and parallel to the top of the fiared base of the said closure means whereby the said closure means is prevented from being turned out of engagement with the said conical dome further than necessary to unseal the said dispensing aperture.

18. In combination, a collapsible tube including a threaded neck, a substantially conical dome projecting from the said neck having a dispensing aperture through the side thereof, closure means threaded on said neck comprising a threaded collar and a semi-frusto conical finger projecting thereabove adapted to engage the said conical dome and seal the said dispensing aperture therethrough when turned into engagement with the said conical dome, the end of the said finger being located below the top of the said conical dome and above the top of the said dispensing aperture when the said finger is turned into engagement with said conical dome, and a detent formed on the top of the said conical dome adapted to limit the turning of the said closure means beyond a position necessary to unseal the said dispensing aperture and prevent the removal thereof.

19. In combination, a collapsible tube including a threaded neck, a substantially conical dome projecting from the said neck having a dispensing aperture through the side thereof, closure means threaded on said neck comprising a threaded collar and a semi-frusto conical finger projecting thereabove adapted to seal the said dispensing aperture when turned into engagement with the said conical dome, and means for limiting the turning of the said closure means to the minimum required to accomplish the complete sealing and unsealing of the said dispensing aperture by the sealing finger,

20. In combination, a collapsible tube including a threaded neck, a substantially conical dome projecting from the said neck having a dispensing aperture through the side thereof, a protuberance formed in the said conical dome around the pe riphery of the said dispensing aperture, closure means threaded on said neck comprising a threaded collar and a semi-frusto conical finger projecting thereabove adapted to seal the said dispensing aperture when turned into compressive sealing engagement with the said conical dome at the said protuberance, and means for limiting the turning of the said closure means to the minimum required to accomplish the complete sealing and unsealing of the said dispensing aperture by the sealing finger.

21. In combination, a collapsible tube including a threaded neck, a substantially conical dome projecting from the said neck having a dispensing aperture through the side thereof, closure means threaded on said neck comprising a threaded collar and a semi-frusto conical finger projecting thereabove adapted to seal the said dispensing aperture when turned into engagement with the said conical dome, and an abutment projecting from said dome engageable by said finger located circumferentially therefrom for limiting the turning of the said closure means to the minimum required to accomplish the complete sealing and unsealing of the said dispensing aperture by the sealing finger.

22. In combination, a collapsible tube including a threaded neck, a substantially conical dome projecting from the said neck having a dispensing aperture through the side thereof, a protuberance formed in the said conical dome around the periphery of the said dispensing aperture, closure means threaded on said neck comprising a threaded collar and a semi-frusto conical finger projecting thereabove adapted to seal the said dispensing aperture when turned into compressive sealing engagement with the said conical dome at the said protuberance, and an abutment projecting from said dome engageable by said finger located circumferentially therefrom for limiting the turning of the said closure means to the minimum required to accomplish the complete sealing and unsealing of the said dispensing aperture by the sealing finger.

EDWARD C. GODFREY. 

